Ed Mathews: New pope makes good impression

Ed Mathews

March 17, 2013 12:01 AM

Ed Mathews

March 17, 2013 12:01 AM

Pope Francis, with his humility and simple lifestyle, has already made a positive impression on the tens of millions who watched the coverage of last week's papal conclave. After the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio greeted the massive crowds at the Vatican as the new pope, he boarded a bus with the other cardinals. Then, the following morning, he returned to the modest hotel where he'd been staying to pick up his luggage and pay his bill. He made it a point to go around to greet the staff. Not too many popes would take care of such business themselves, and Pope Francis probably won't have the time to tend to such duties in the busy days ahead, but it was refreshing to see that his election had not changed him. It remains to be seen how he will deal with the big questions facing the Catholic Church, such as the role of women, the Vatican's finances and fallout from the pedophile scandal. The new pope is a Jesuit, which must have made the priests at all the Jesuit colleges very happy. ... The race between County Executive Barry Grossman and Kathy Dahlkemper promises to be an exciting one. Dahlkemper lost to U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly in 2010, but she is a proven vote-getter, especially among Democrats. This could be the most hotly contested Democratic race since Mario Bagnoni challenged Mayor Lou Tullio and nearly unseated him.

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Gov. Tom Corbett, judging by recent polls, looks to be in trouble in his bid for re-election, but 2014 is still a ways off and he will likely have opportunities to bolster his chances. ... The Pennsylvania Turnpike scandal is another black eye for the state's lawmakers. It has led to serious charges against seven people, including retired state Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow, who is already serving a term in federal prison in South Carolina on unrelated corruption charges. ... That was quite an honor for Erie funeral director Jack Martin, of the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, when the American Funeral Director magazine named him funeral director of the year. The magazine, which has a national circulation, published a three-page story and photo spread on Jack. Considering there are more than 30,000 funeral directors in the U.S., it is a major award. ... Finally, happy St. Patrick's Day to all our Irish friends.